Below Videos: Congressman Jeff Van Drew, Former Assemblywoman Claire Swift, and Atlantic County Commissioners (Freeholders) John Risley and June Byrnes speak at Atlantic County Republican Convention in Galloway Township on February 21, 2026.
Van Drew has consistently and publicly supported many of our 12 basic goals for 2025. He led the drive to lower electric rates by not forcing us to pay for solar and wind, and building nuclear and natural gas plants instead. Atlantic County Republicans have so far failed publicly support any of our 12 basic goals for 2025. We believe that NJ Republicans gave “woke” Democrats total control of New Jersey because they failed to support basic conservative principles since 1994. Our 12 Basic Goals/Issues adopted by us in 2025 are listed below.
Let’s talk about it over breakfast! We have open discussions at 9:30am every Saturday morning at Sal’s Coal Fired Pizza in Somers Point, New Jersey. Everyone who supports American liberty is welcome to take part. Just order and pay for your own breakfast off the menu and tip your server!
Republican Congressman Jeff Van Drew: “We are in the biggest Congressional District in the State of New Jersey. It is very broad. and it has many different people, with many different ways of life. It goes up to Ocean County, over to Gloucester, over to Salem County and down to Cape May.
“But you know what? People share a lot in common. I was talking to Joanne over there. You know, the juice girl over there. Do you see her? I have no idea whether or not she is a Republican or a Democrat, or an independent. But Joanne is a person we need to get to. There she is, breaking her ass, working hard, trying to make a living. Trying to do the best she can. But she gets her damn electric bill. And her gas bill. And her water bill. To stay in New Jersey. And her property taxes. And her car insurance. And her house insurance. Her homeowner’s insurance. You want me to go on? You all know it. Anyone who is of middle means. And that is most of the people who are in this room. You know how hard it is to make a living and to keep going. It’s no joke.
“Let’s talk about the last election. Because you’ve got to learn from when things don’t go right. And I’m an outspoken guy, and I’m going to tell you what I think.
“Jack Ciattarelli was an unusually good candidate. Well-spoken. Quite frankly handsome. Middle aged young guy. Ready to go. Good on the ideas. If you looked at that campaign. For those of you who looked at TV. And I don’t get to watch much TV. But people report back to me.
“The campaign on our side, we talked about how she knew some people who cheated in the Naval Academy. and blah blah blah and didn’t report them. People can’t relate to that or care how she made money in Congress through the stock market. People think all the Congressmen are making money that way. They’re not by the way. I’m not. But they think we are.
“People wanted to know what you’re going to do. And I’m going to show you the cruel irony of this, and how we got to get our thinking caps on.
“The cruel part of this is that the Democrats in New Jersey created the chaos. For eight years, Governor Murphy closed down gas plants, closed down our own nuclear plant, closed down the plant at Beesley’s Point, didn’t replace them with anything, put billions of dollars into wind turbines, to foreign countries, and our energy bills went way up.
“And what happened? We talked about this for years about what would happen. There are literally theses and papers on this. When you increase the demand and the demand goes up and the supply goes down, ladies and gentlemen what happens? The price goes up! That’s the reality.
“What did Mikie Sherrill do? She ran on a campaign that she was going to lower energy prices and hold the cost of living in New Jersey! How damn ironic is that? How painful is that? That’s our campaign! We’re running on this! We’re on the right side of this! We want more energy for New Jersey. More energy for America. We’re on the side of the American people.
“When Joanne over here gets her electric bill, she has to work extra hours over here. And she’s not the only one. And I know I’m getting kind of serious. But if you want to win, and boy, fiery speeches are good. And you know I’ve given a lot of them. But it’s not just fiery speeches…”
Republican Former Assemblywoman Claire Swift: “I appreciate it (2026 Republican of the Year Award). I know we had a hiccup in the last election. We wanted Jack Ciattarelli to be our Governor. And I unfortunately did not win the election. But it has been an absolute honor and a privilege to be your Assemblywoman for the last four years.
“This election was a wake-up call that we as Republicans have to be more united than ever and ever. We have to support each other. We have to be united and we have to agree to disagree. But we cannot publicly not support each other. I’m also very, very happy to be helping this election. 2026 is going to be a great year. I’m looking forward to working with Congressman Jeff Van Drew. And helping County Commissioners (Freeholders) June Byrnes, John Risley, and Andrew Parker. Sheriff Tokyo Joe, and of course, the best county clerk in America, Joe Giralo.
“We’re going to continue to build this party. Atlantic County Republicans are only just beginning again. But we have to do things differently. Because as the Congressman said before, we have to work on the fact that we have to help people. People are suffering right now. We want to do more community outreach. I was very happy that during my tenure, with the help of all the Atlantic County Republican clubs, along with the Atlantic County Federation of Republican Women, we were able to give out free meals, free meal book bags, help the veterans, here in Atlantic County.
“I was happy to pass legislation to help the affordability crisis here in Atlantic County. Whether it be child tax credits. to student loan debts, and property tax relief…
“I’m going to continue to work as an attorney and help our constituents. I am going nowhere. My law office is on Tilton Road. It’s been there for 20 years. I’ve been busier than ever with people stopping by and asking me for help. and I will continue to do that…”
Republican Atlantic County Commissioner (Freeholder) John Risley: “I had a fall last Thursday. But this little accident I had is not going to stop or impinge my ability to campaign. Because I am very passionate about our county. Very passionate. That passion ranges from my family history to service above self.
“This is my 25th year as an Atlantic County Freeholder, Commissioner or whatever you call it. We are the legislative part of County Government. We work the the County Executive, Dennis Levinson. He’s the administrative part. We’re the legislative part. And together, we’ve worked well over the years.
“We’re going to work very, very hard in this election coming up. Understand this. I’ve been around a long time. I know that each election stands on its own. I’ve won by 9,000 votes. I’ve won by 300. A lot of this has to do with the times. So we’re going to work as a team very, very hard to get the vote out, to get those lazy Republicans to come out and vote for us because it has to be done…
“We have a great ticket, from top to bottom. And when we look at the ticket for the Board of Commissioners. Myself, Andy Parker, June Byrnes, I’m running with people who have experience. Experience matters. Experience counts. The other team that the Democrats put up, they do not have experience. None. Go get some experience first before you run on a county level. That’s what I say…
Republican Atlantic County Commissioner June Byrnes: “Thank you Mayor Serra (Brigantine), (Atlantic County) Commissioner Schenker (for making and seconding nomination), and my big sister Karen Bew, Deputy Mayor of Brigantine who has been with me for everything in my entire life. I believe in one simple principle. If you care about your community, you serve it. That belief didn’t begin with a campaign. It didn’t begin with the title. It began years ago long before I had the honor of first serving in the City of Linwood on the City Council. Thank you Mayor Maddock. And then as an Atlantic County Commissioner. It began by volunteering. When I simply showed up, rolled up my sleeves, and did the work. A lifetime of caring and serving is what brought me here.
Serving as a commissioner in Atlantic County is not about politics to me. It’s about people. It’s about protecting taxpayers through responsible budgeting and fiscal discipline. Making sure that every dollar is spent wisely and transparently. It’s about strengthening “economic development”, partnering with local businesses, workforce programs, and education institutions to ensure that opportunity stays right here in Atlantic County. It’s about advocating for our seniors, our veterans, and our families. Making sure county government is accessible, responsible, and compassionate. It’s about public health initiatives, child advocacy, ensuring that the most at-risk residents are taken care of.
“I’ve always believed that leadership is not about the loudest voice in the room. It’s about the most reliable one. The one who shows up The one who listens. The one who does the work. The honor of serving Atlantic County is a privilege. I promise that when I am re-elected, I will continue to lead with integrity, accessibility, and a heart for service.
“Thank you for everyone’s support as I attend your club meetings. We’re all in this together and I can’t do it without you. Let’s keep moving Atlantic County forward.
12 BASIC GOALS/ISSUES ADOPTED BY LIBERTY AND PROSPERITY
IN 2025:
1. Mass Deportations Of Foreigners Who Arrived Illegally After 2015. Case-by-case for others. Revoke asylum “paroles” previously issued without evidence in violation of law.
2. Honest Elections. One Election Day With In-Person Voting And Voter ID. Limit Mail-In Ballots to military, disabled, and those with documented travel plans. Register at least 30 days before Election Day.
3. End “Green” Energy Subsidies. No Government Funding or Rate Hikes to pay for Unsustainable and Unreliable Solar and Wind Electricity. Expand nuclear power. Rebuild and replace the productive nuclear, oil, and gas power plants destroyed by demands of climate alarmists during the past five years.
4. End Mandatory And Government Funded Recycling. End restrictions on private, voluntary recycling.
5. Apply Constitution To Control Spending And Debt. Limit federal borrowing and spending to national purposes “enumerated” in Article I, Section 8 of U.S. Constitution. Enforce NJ State Constitution by refusing to pay government debt borrowed without voter approval.
6. Repeal 2014 “Bail Reform” Amendment to NJ Constitution.
7. Persuasion To Protect The Unborn. No tax dollars or insurance mandates for abortions or Planned Parenthood propaganda. Conscientious Objector status for doctors and nurses who refuse to abort pregnancies that do not endanger life of mother. Mandatory ultrasounds before non-emergency abortions to ensure informed consent.
8. Rethink Public Education. This includes letting parents apply their child’s share of public-school funds to private schools of their choice.
9. Protect Public From The “Homeless”. Restrict the freedom of those who deny clean and safe parks, sidewalks and other taxpayer-funded public spaces to others. Institutions for mentally ill. Jail for criminals. Shelters for temporary poor.
10. Equally Distribute “Property Tax Relief Fund” of NJ Income Tax to Each Town or School District On Equal Per Person Basis. (Mike Doherty Plan)
11. Enforce All Constitutional Laws. Quickly Repeal Bad Ones. (In 1868, Republican President Ulysses Grant said this was the best way to secure the repeal of “bad and obnoxious” laws).
12. Oppose all efforts to hold an Article V “Convention of States”. It is a false panacea that threatens to void our U.S. Constitution. It poses an existential threat to our Republic.
*1-11 Unanimously Approved by Our Members At Monthly Business Meeting Of February 8, 2025 After Two Months Of Discussion. #12 adopted on May 5, 2025.
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